User:Belsaia/en/Belsaia/story

	Master of Storytelling honorary title bestowed by Oakheart on May 25, 2021

From the diary of a grey elve

was born in Celondim in the year 864 of the Third Age. As the only daughter of Bradhranglas, I had a carefree and sheltered childhood here. Even as a small elven girl I wanted to be a great huntress and roamed the forests around Celodim with my first self-made bow and my friends. This could have gone on forever according to our will, but after the first orcs were sighted in the Ered Luin, my father sent me to the relatives in the Greenwood (Probably he also made the decision because his little princess started to thumbing on his nose; but this is just a guess). The journey to the forest elves in the Greenwood – yes, at that time it was still called that! – we all made together. On the way we also rested for some time in Imladris, where my parents introduced me to Lord Elrond and his wife. My father knew Lord Elrond still from old times and he told me again and again that it is a great honor to be allowed to spend the night in the last homely house.

There is not much to report about my time with the forest elves. It was just the education of a growing elve – mostly very boring. The trips to my parents, mostly to Celondim, later also to Tham Mirdain, brought some variety. On these trips I always stopped for a few days in Imladris and also visited Lady Celebrian. In the course of time an intimate relationship developed between us; and sometime around the year 1000 T.A. she made me the suggestion to move to Rivendell completely, so that she could instruct me in the manners of young elvish women, as they were common in Aman and are still appreciated especially by the High Elves. Also, she said, I could study in the library of Lord Elrond the history of our people and the records of Beleriand, of the other races and the secret knowledge of nature. She had set in her mind to make me a mediator between the peoples, since – as she said – the evil in Middle Earth will be more powerful again and the struggle will be successful only together.

~ Youth in Imladris ~

esides studying the scrolls in Elrond's library, I also used the experiences of the elves of Rivendell to learn how to use a bow properly. I also learned from the most skilled craftsmen how to make a solid bow myself that could stand up to a horde of orcs. My time in Imladris was not only pleasant, but also very successful. I became a good huntress, just as I had always imagined as a child. I was also successfully taught negotiating skills and how to deal with members of foreign races or even with lords and kings by Celebrian, as I was now allowed to call her. In the course of the years in Imladris, I accompanied the hunters more and more often on their excursions into the Troll Heights and the Misty Mountains. Sometime in 1409 T.A. we encountered a larger horde of orcs roaming the area for the first time. Here I was able to show that I not only knew how to hunt deer and boars, but also how to defend myself with a bow and an elven sword. As a result, Lord Elrond allowed me to be instructed in the art of combat by Glorfindel. As it turned out, this was a wise decision, since we had to deal more and more often with gangs of orcs from the northern mountains and eventually even had to fight against small dragons. Lord Elrond was of the opinion that Elves, Dwarves and Men had to fight together against the emerging evil and repeatedly entrusted me with assignments as a courier or negotiator, which took me to Arnor, the Blue Mountains, the Greenwood and Erebor. Especially the dwarves met me again and again with the distrust that they have against most elves. So it happened that I sometimes needed several months before I had gained so much trust that I could fulfill my actual mission. In the process, I learned a lot from the customs of the dwarves, even if I still find much of it strange today.

~ Concerning Hobbits ~

n one of the journeys I met people I had never heard of before: the Halflings. They had just departed from their ancient homeland near the Gladden Fields, heading west. They are a cute race. The Hobbits – as they call themselves – are a bit smaller than Dwarves, and not as strong. But they are incredibly tough; you don't immediately see what they are capable of. I accompanied them part of the way until my mission took me to Eregion. Upon my return, I told Lord Elrond about this strange people. He smiled and said: »Not many know the Periannath. They like to keep to themselves and are masters at getting through the world unseen. Some of them will be important to all of Middle-earth, even if none of their people know of it today. You should keep an eye on the halflings and help if they need it.« 

And so began my long friendship with the Hobbits. They like to keep to themselves and are very reserved towards the »tall people«, as they call elves and humans. But if you don't harass them and once you have gained their friendship, they are quite hearty little people. They have courage like a warrior are tough like the Beornigers and when it comes to getting somewhere unseen they are unbeatable. Only their eating habits are hard to understand for us elves.

I did not witness the settlement of the Shire myself. But after the halflings settled there, I visited them more often. And I must say, they have really found a beautiful and peaceful spot in Middle Earth; and I will do my best to keep it that way.

~ Interlude ~

o the centuries passed and I saw empires rise and fall. I was on the road a lot. As a negotiator with the lords and kings of men and dwarves. As a bearer of good and not so good news between the elven kingdoms and every now and then as a protector of the hobbits in the Shire – although they rarely noticed. On all these journeys there were also incidents again and again, where we had to defend ourselves against orcs and wargs.

We did not interfere in the wars of the human kingdoms among themselves. It is a very young and impusive race, which lacks the calm and foresight of the elves, so our attempts to mediate were rarely crowned with success, so that we refrained from it after some time. We know from our own painful history that in a war between brothers and sisters there are only losers in the end. But this experience must probably make each race itself.

~ A painful farewell ~

bout nine hundred years after my first encounter with the orcs, I returned to Imladris to help Elrond's wife, who had decided to leave Middle Earth for the West, with the preparations. In the one year until her journey, there was much to arrange, prepare, and complete. Since I was no longer a little girl, I offered my help to Celebrian as a friend or younger sister. And I am still proud today that she accepted this help and also asked me to accompany her on her journey to the Grey havens. My help consisted mainly of little things and errands, and I often felt I had to do more. But Celebrian made me understand again and again that exactly these little things are of great value to her.

After a year we left for the Grey havens, and although we often laughed and joked, it was a sad journey for me, as I knew I would not see my friend and mentor again for a very long time. I continued to watch the ship she boarded for a long time and settled down near my birthplace in the aftermath. The grief for the lost friend, the second great loss after the death of my mother, paralyzed my drive. I holed up in my new hiding place and perfected my manual skills. Unfortunately, I neglected my other tasks, which I had been given by Lord Elrond. I knew in my heart that this was a mistake. Nevertheless, I gave in to lethargy. Probably a lot of misfortune could have been prevented, if I had been only a little stronger at that time ...

~ A new companion ~

ord Elrond probably saw it the same way and so he sent me the request to go to Imladris, where a new order was waiting for me. The message was brought to me by a handsome forest elf with whom I had traveled frequently in earlier days. In the two and a half centuries of my absence, he mostly stayed in Eryn Lasgalen and in Dale. The mission was then to accompany the forest elf to Dale and Erebor to mediate in an emerging dispute between humans and dwarves. In the meantime, my companion was to find out more about the rumors of dragons in the Grey Mountains.

We were often on the road together during this time and even the rest breaks in Eryn Lasgalen, in Esgaroth or Felegoth we usually spent together. He was always particularly attentive and courteous, and so travel companions became friends, and friendship became more over time ... One beautiful evening in Imladris, we were sitting together above the waterfall watching the sunset, when he asked me if I wanted to be his wife. And whether I wanted to! But then it took almost ten years until we were married in a very romantic ceremony by Lord Elrond.

The return of the Dark Lord to Dol Guldur made it necessary for us to observe the activities in the Greenwood – which was now also called the Mirkwood for the first time – and to drive away all too brazen orcs from the area around the Gladden Fields and Eriador. My husband was very worried about me and did not want me to take part in the warlike conflicts with Sauron's hordes. Of course, I didn't admit that, and since I wanted to prove to him that I could very well take care of myself, I took on assignments that separated me from him whenever his caring became too overpowering. Sometimes love is easier when there are a few miles between you. Nevertheless, in 2520 T.A. our first daughter was born. Belsiriel was all our happiness and I recognized in her my own childhood. Only a short time later we had our second daughter and Belsiriel a little sister. Belothriel was a bit brighter than her big sister. She learned faster, but was just as quick to take risks. The two were our pride and joy and so we decided that I should stay in Imladris and take over their upbringing.

~ Fateful years ~

y beloved husband fought the wargs, orcs and spiders in the Great Greenwood, which now appeared more and more often. But every time he came to Imladris, he had time only for us and cared for us as lovingly as one could imagine. For me it could have gone on forever, I had my daughters around me and my husband was with us as often as he could. As I was instructed by Celebrian in elvish history, manners and diplomacy, I now tried in turn to pass this on to my daughters. But I also taught them the skills with bow and arrow as well as I could. When my husband was in Imladris, my two daughters often used the time to go hunting with him. And although he did everything to protect them from any harm, he taught them the fighting techniques of a warrior. So that they would be able to defend themselves if the worst came to the worst, as he said.

But then came the Battle of the Five Armies, and with it came grief. My beloved husband was killed by a giant warg that attacked him from behind while he was penetrating the orcish ranks with his sword (I learned about it some time later from a wood elf who fought alongside him and barely survived the attack). That was already eighty years ago and still it seems to me as if we had said goodbye to each other only yesterday ...

But let me tell you about more pleasant things: My two daughters are now old enough to go their own ways. I have taught them everything I learned from my parents, from Celebrian and Lord Elrond and experienced on my wanderings – at least I tried.

~ Life goes on ~

ven in the life of the elves there is a phase when the children have to find their place in the world and are accordingly difficult. Those were the times! I could not do anything right for my daughters. And I had no idea of anything in their eyes anyway (smirks at the thought). But we survived this time, too, and today I am like a good friend for Belsiriel and Belothriel, from whom they seek advice from time to time. In my opinion we see each other much too seldom, but they have become mature elves who go their own way. And I am proud of them!

Belsiriel now lives in Felegoth and has made a name for herself there as a protector of the forest. Belothriel, who has always been the nestling, is more musically inclined. She travels between Imladris, the Shire and Gondor, recording the old and new stories of Middle-earth. In doing so, she uses more than just scrolls. For Frodo and Sam's journey, she has woven a tapestry. It now hangs in King Elessar's throne room. Perhaps you will see it when you are in Minas Tirith.

So I was alone again. There was nothing to keep me in Imladris, but I didn't want to live alone again in Celodim or wander the countryside. That is why I joined a community of like-minded people. Here hobbits, dwarves, humans and elves have come together to continue the fight against Sauron and his henchmen and governors, so that the free peoples of Middle-earth can remain free and live in peace. This colorful mixture was quite to my liking and so I joined them. We fight in different areas against the big and small evils and in the course of time we have become so many that – should it ever be necessary again – we can also raise an army.

The rest is in the mist of future events ...